Reality matters : 19 writers come clean about the shows we can't stop watching

Poverty in the time of The real housewives of New York City (The real housewives of New York City) / Stacey Grenrock Woods -- Faketastic (The hills) / Melissa De La Cruz) -- Billie Jeanne is not my lover (Married by America) / Neal Pollack -- The cutting crew (Project runway) / Jancee Dunn -- Show boat (The other boat race) / Toby Young -- The biting hand (Dog Whisperer) / Will Leitch -- Honest, honey, I'm not gay, I just like watching half-naked buff guys with full-body ink (Lockup) / Jerry Stahl -- Becoming a lady (Ladette to lady) / Amelie Gillette -- Shelly (Big brother) / Ben Mandelker -- Joining the real world (The real world) / Anna David -- Gameboy (Survivor) / Austin Bunn -- The after-party (Sober house) / John Albert -- I dream of Stacy (What not to wear) / Helaine Olen -- Idolatry (American idol) / Richard Rushfield -- How to survive a bachelor party (The bachelor) / Wendy Merrill -- Gym, tan, laundry (Jersey shore) / Mark Lisanti -- Corrupted reality (Storm watch) / Rex Sorgatz -- Dog the bounty hunter hunter (Dog the bounty hunter) / Neil Strauss.;Collects essays on reality television programs and their personal appeal, including articles on a casting call for the "Real World" and sympathizing with contestants of "Sober House." Reality television is the ultimate guilty pleasure — a nonstop parade of cast members and scenarios that make fictional ones seem downright dull. Increasingly absurd challenges, hair-yanking catfights, and hot tub makeouts dripping with yet-to-be-acknowledged regret are only part of its appeal.In this collection of wry and moving essays, bestselling authors explore the programs we obsess over, cringe at, and occasionally feel inspired by. From a Real World casting call and American Idol tattoo to a look at the appeal of Big Brother, Survivor, The Real Housewives, and more, a vibrant mix of literary luminaries examine the form of entertainment that's dominated our TV screens for more than a decade.Entertaining and insightful, Reality Matters is a must-read for anyone who adores reality TV, wants to know what kind of an impact it's having on our society, or simply wonders just how real any of it actually is. Top Chef. America's Next Top Model. Survivor. Dancing with the Stars. American Idol. Big Brother. The Biggest Loser... Everyone has a guilty reality television pleasure. Curated by Party Girl author Anna David, Reality Matters is a collection of hilarious yet revealing essays from novelists, essayists, and journalists—including Toby Young, Neil Strauss, and Stacey Grenrock Woods, among many others—about the reality television shows they love, obsess over, and cringe at; and why they, and America, can't stop watching.